After gaining notice as a sideman on his brother Johnny’s Second Winter album, keyboardist/saxophonist/composer Edgar Winter signed to Epic Records and quickly became one of the biggest stars of the ‘70s, releasing eight charting albums during the decade including the #3 smash They Only Come Out at Night. But aside from his commercial success, what makes Edgar Winter such an intriguing artist—and worthy of a 2-CD, 30-track retrospective, his biggest ever—is that he never stayed in one stylistic rut. Elements of blues, jazz, soul, and funk swirl within his music, sometimes even in the same song (e.g. “Frankenstein”), and the level of musicianship—with such sidemen/band members as Rick Derringer, Ronnie Montrose, Dan Hartman, and, of course, brother Johnny Winter—is never less than top shelf. This 30-track collection hits all the high points in chronological order, offering such hits and album tracks as “Give It Everything You Got,” “Keep Playin’ That Rock ‘n’ Roll,” “Rock & Roll, Hoochie Koo.” “Free Ride,” “Frankenstein,” “River’s Risin’,” “Easy Steet,” and more, and pulls tracks from all 11 of the albums he recorded for Epic and Blue Sky featuring all of the various aggregations (Edgar Winter’s White Trash, The Edgar Winter Group, and his Together album with Johnny) that he led. Bill Kopp’s liner notes share the fruits of a 2 ½ hour-long interview, and we’ve included copious photos and album shots. Remastered by Darren Salmieri at Battery Studios in New York…some of the best blues-rock of the ‘70s!

Disc: 1

1. Tobacco Road

2. Entrance

3. Hung Up

4. Where Have You Gone

5. Give It Everything You Got

6. Dying to Live

7. Keep Playin' That Rock 'n' Roll

8. Fly Away

9. You Were My Light

10. Save the Planet (Live)

11. Rock & Roll, Hoochie Koo

12. Free Ride

13. Round & Round

14. Alta Mira

15. We All Had a Real Good Time

Disc: 2

1. Frankenstein

2. Some Kinda Animal

3. Someone Take My Heart Away

4. Easy Street

5. Animal

6. River's Risin'

7. Chainsaw

8. Good Shot

9. Hello Mellow Feelin'

10. Keep On Burnin'

11. Solar Strut

12. Rock & Roll Medley (Live)

13. Stickin' It Out

14. It's Your Life to Live

15. Tomorrowland

Article originally appeared on Real Gone Music (http://www.realgonemusic.com/).